tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 hi, i've decided to upgrade the light on my 90cm long aquarium as the current one just isn't doing the job. my local fish shops don't seem to stock many, there are many on trademe at the moment so i'd like some advice on what you think i should get? the 3 glass lids make the length slighly longer than 90cms if it was to attach with clips etc so maybe one that rests on the top would be best. would i need single or double bulb holding capacity? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 depends on how deep the tank is as well Deeper tanks need more light to penetrate to the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 it is 41cms deep and 39.5cms wide. cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chazza404 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 On my tank of roughly that size im running 2x 30W 6500K bulbs which do well enough - im quite heavily planted though. In terms of wattage and how many bulbs needed it really depends what your trying to do with it e.g. light/heavily planted tank or bare etc, doubles are more expensive but more worth it if your looking to add more light, for that size theyre usually 90-110 for a double hood. Personally id go for the highest wattage double i could find on there, T5's aren't up on trademe that often and cost more, alternatively you could look into building your own if you wanted something more specific. Also ive found that going to a lighting wholesaler or hardware store saves quite a bit on bulbs compared to a pet store in my experience and you can get more specifics for wattage, kelvin etc. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishandchips Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 I am doing the same thing that you are tukituki but with a slightly smaller tank. I have ordered some T5 units from http://www.petplanet.co.nz/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=291 2x24w units. They come all pre wired will electric ballest and waterproof fittings and clips for the bulbs. I am getting to sets for my tank. They have ended out around about the same price compared to sourcing all the bits and pieces from electrical wholesalers. So to cut a long story short i get everything i need for slightly more expensive then parts but then the unit is waterproof. Next step lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 thanks. i'd ideally like just one unit that sits on the glass lids or clips on somehoe, i don't like the idea of me constructing it, i'm not so good at diy! the lights on pet planet, how would they work? my light at the moment is in a case with a regular light bulb, yep not ideal and need something better but easy to set up. there are some aqua one lights i've seen, double ones, are they any good? ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 We have T5's on our planted discus tank and they are brilliant... I also have 4 Aqua Ones on our Frontosa tank and they are great to. I would definately buy Aqua One lights for a fish tank again if I needed more lights... Stay away from Ocean Free lights IMO 8) There are better out there... Have had those and they are not that great, not to mention the fitting ends come away quite easily of which resulted in my hubby getting a good zap muuuhahahahaha :lol: Alot of LFS have a few of each stock that they sell, and alot of shops order them in on request (which can be overnight service if you request that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Apparently the GLO T5 4foot units are backordered, but on my 3foot I have an aqua-one, and find that its fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Yeap they are on back order and 2-3 months away apparently Luckily I got mine before they ran out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 There are a couple of 4foot 4bulb fittings on TM, but I can't afford to pay 800 bucks for one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 yeah $800 is way outta my budget! i was thinking around $100-130 ish. is T5 a brand?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 T5 is a specification referring to the width of the tube... T5's will also give out more light than a standard fluro (T8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Ok what is the light for tho? Is it heavily planted or just lightly planted etc. For a medium-heavily planted tank, I'd suggest T5s. But if its lightly or hardly any plants then T8 tubes might work out better. It all depends on what is in your tank or how you want it to be (whether its gonna go full on with plants or be solely ornaments etc with less plants, or more light to make the fish easier to see). You also have to remember that with this hobby (most of us are hooked and are always looking at upgrades), that spending a little more money at the start saves you alot more money later on. Just keep that in mind . Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 the tank is medium planted with some of the plants likely to grow a lot once the lighting improves. i can't really spend too much, got my horses, dogs and cats to think of as well, but i've seen double aqua one lights for $120 or a jebo 2nd hand similar price including bulbs. is this the T5? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =103281063 how much would the bulbs be? might not quite fit on my tank with the cover (comes to 93cms), maybe aqua one or Jebo?! Decisions decisions...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Yup, they're T5s. Petplanet sells em. Here's a link to the page. Think its one of the cheapest prices around for T5s but don't quote me on it. http://www.petplanet.co.nz/index.php?pr=Lighting Yea I'd say go T5 by the sounds of your tank set-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 I got some t5 fittings with 2x 39 watt t5 bulbs for a 3 foot tank for a little over 200 bucks from guy on trademe called original aqua. The tank looks totally different now, pretty good cos they're cheap at that price imho. Tank with 60 watts of t8 lights Tank with 78 watts of t5 lights Just to show ya the difference. Its a 90 cm long tank btw and about 50 cm deep so its kinda about the length of yours. The light ballast thingy can extend a little too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 its a nice light but the costs will be adding up with the bulbs as well... and would a 91cm stretch to the 93cms of my glass lids? probably not eh. i intend to put the lights on top of my glass lids, just sitting on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 i think the ends of those lights are extendable. have you looked them up on google? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 sorry ljtan55 your post didn't show until after i wrote! yeah i see the difference. do you have to get the special bulbs for it? yeah i've checked it is extendible. maybe you're starting to change my mind, would look pretty nice...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 T5 is kickass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 lol you'd laugh if you saw the light i have at the moment, its from the 50's i think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 We all start somewhere. lol. I need to upgrade to T5s as well. Too many plants in my tank to put up with 6 4ft T8s over the top of it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 I'm going to be running a 3foot T8 unit on a 1.3m x 60 deep tank until I can afford some T5s lol >. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Yeah the bulbs were extra. I'm not sure what the actual price is cos he gave me a bit of a discount, but it was about 30 bucks each for the 39watt t5 bulbs, and about $150 for the fittings. Which is pretty good, esp cos i saw the fitting without bulbs costing $255 at another fish store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 do you have to have fittings as well? i thought they came with them?! https://falkor.hosts.net.nz/petplanet.c ... d=354&=SID isn't that what the brackets are?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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